Chapter Thirty-Seven: The Greatest Joke of All

Yuan Yao’er immediately ended the livestream, grabbed her car keys, and rushed out to the institution. Tricked by that wretched woman, she knew that if she didn’t show up now, she’d become tomorrow’s laughingstock. Who could have predicted that Bamboo Leaf would also be there? He was the deputy principal of the institution, a member of the board, and an honorary lifelong member of the Designers’ Association.

Now Yuan Yao’er truly panicked. She had originally planned to use this opportunity to stir up some drama about Lan Feng. In this way, everything would appear above board, and no one could find a chink in her armor. Yuan Xiangdie, on the other hand, improvised at the last moment—she nearly forgot that the publication design for that manuscript had once been entrusted to someone else. But that person hadn’t known the truth; if he ever found out, would he be angry?

Xu Juntao insisted he wasn’t angry at all. He’d been searching for this young lady for quite some time, and never expected to encounter her here today, having almost given up hope.

“My goodness, you are my muse! I’ve been looking for you for so long, and now I finally get to see you again.”

Many present were familiar with Xu Juntao’s name—even the woman who’d rushed over, breathless and sweating, recognized him. Her phone was still streaming live, sweat beading on her brow, her once-simple makeup now disheveled, making her look almost deranged, like a novice who’d bungled her cosmetics for comedic effect.

It took Yuan Xiangdie some time to realize that this gentleman was the very one who had bought her manuscript back then. Her smile deepened, and she stepped forward to greet him with a respectful bow.

“Hello. Thank you for purchasing my manuscript back then. Without that, I wouldn’t be where I am today. Unfortunately, I didn’t keep the original well, and it was exploited by others with ill intent. I’m truly sorry.”

“Not at all,” Xu Juntao replied. “Your manuscript is still safe in my portfolio drawer. It’s one I could never grow tired of.”

By now, the audience in the livestream had pieced it together: Lan Feng was a brand that appeared three years ago, and this woman had drawn the hand-draft three years prior—both the colored draft and design copyright had been sold to the master at that time.

Anyone with sense could see what had happened. Even Teacher Jia, regretful now, no longer tried to intervene. Instead, he rushed to the bin at the back and fished out the discarded manuscript.

“When I first saw you, you had that wild, frizzy hair. Who could have guessed that time would transform you into such a handsome man!”

There was a teasing note in his voice, and Xu Junjie, for his part, was now completely certain: this young lady was indeed the same person as back then. Though she’d worn a baseball cap and at first he thought she was a boy, only she could have seen him in that outrageous style.

He chuckled sheepishly, a bit embarrassed.

“I know this graduation project is crucial for your future career. If you like, you can come directly to my studio—I promise it’ll be much easier than staying in the country.”

Such a promise was no small thing. Even top designers in the country would fight tooth and nail for a chance like this. Who could have imagined that a mere student at this institution would receive such an offer? Countless people were green with envy.

As the two reminisced, the Lan Feng brand suffered another heavy blow: many major clients canceled their orders, vowing to return the entire season’s goods and end all cooperation. Even a joint venture company had sent a legal notice!

Suddenly, the door was wrenched open with a crash. The automatic door, now half-stuck, wouldn’t budge, and the alarm blared overhead. Those present clapped their hands over their ears, and viewers in the livestream quickly turned down the volume to save their hearing.

“Who is it? How rude, to interrupt me and my muse! Security, where’s security? Remove this uncultured person at once!”

Such was Xu Juntao’s temperament—when working on designs, even the slightest noise would enrage him. That’s why, whenever famous foreign brands or companies invited him to collaborate, they always provided a perfectly quiet environment.

Yuan Yao’er burst in, knowing she was already too late. But even if Lan Feng collapsed today, she was determined to drag that woman down with her. Wasn’t she always so careful about her reputation? Well, today she’d strip every last feather from her wings.

She crashed about like a madwoman, evading the hesitant security guards—none dared lay a hand on her, given her special status. Even if the brand fell, her family’s name still carried weight.

For a moment, her desperate struggle paid off—she managed to break free.

“You think you’re so great? Even if you clear your name, what difference does it make? Don’t forget the crime you were accused of—the reason you spent those three years in prison. If your memory fails you, let me remind you: who would ever accept a designer released from jail? Don’t imagine you’ve bested me. You’re a murderer who killed her own father. Do you really think people will like you? Impossible.”

Her taunting words echoed through the hall. No one had expected such a past. Those who had just been clamoring for justice fell silent in an instant. To have killed her own father—such a crime, no matter how talented she was, would overshadow her forever.

A flicker of panic crossed Yuan Xiangdie’s eyes. Yuan Yao’er had never intended to come today; she had orchestrated this farce to humiliate her. But who could have foreseen that it was her own family’s feud that would disgrace them, while rivals in the business world watched the spectacle with glee? The stock price plummeted, nearly hitting the lower limit, and employees were on edge.

“You madwoman, stop slandering her! Anyone who can design something like this can’t be the scoundrel you claim, let alone murder her own father! Think—how old was she three years ago? How could a child…”

Xu Junjie still tried to defend her. In his heart, his muse could never have done such a thing. The noble, dignified designs she’d created, her recent fashion pieces that had even graced the runway at William’s exhibition—none of it fit that accusation.

He wanted to say more, but suddenly felt a slender hand rest on his shoulder.

“Thank you, but there’s no need to continue. I don’t deny it. I truly did serve three years in prison. That stain is real, and I can’t escape it.”

Yuan Xiangdie sighed. Yet when she opened her eyes again, she realized her life should not be bound by the paths of these two women.

So what if she admitted it openly?

Stepping out from behind the shielding men, Yuan Yao’er stared at Yuan Xiangdie. Once again, it was as if they’d returned to that moment when she, the illegitimate daughter, was led out of a dilapidated, gloomy place into this grand, sunlit mansion.

“Your tricks are beyond me. Don’t forget, when you took those designs from me, you never imagined this day would come. Some designs follow the tides of fashion; if you can’t seize the next trend, like you did when you founded Lan Feng by chance, those works will be abandoned by changing tastes. If you can’t produce new work, you’ll be left behind.”

That was precisely why Lan Feng’s work had deteriorated over time. Most people could see the truth. Behind their backs, they spat contempt at this mother-daughter duo, capable of anything for money—even stealing someone else’s designs, then shamelessly registering them as a trademark.

“Don’t talk nonsense. I drew those designs myself, fair and square. Even if I fall behind the trends, I can always learn. As long as there’s hope, I’ll find a way.”

A single glance at their faces would tell you who was genuine, and who an imposter.

Calm and composed, one would never look at the other with resentment. The truth that Jin Yuan had uncovered years ago was finally ready to come to light.

Housekeeper Hu had left ten minutes earlier, while Jin Yuan personally drove the child to the company. None of this had been planned in advance—it was all left to fate.

“Yuan Xiangdie will be busy today. Xiao Wei, let’s find her tomorrow, all right?”

Jin Yuan spoke gently to the little one, who nodded obediently. He had watched the livestream to the end, and a flash of sorrow crossed his young face. Seeing this, Jin Yuan almost believed Yuan Xiangdie was the boy’s real mother—their eyes mirrored each other so closely. But the thought passed quickly; he didn’t dwell on it.

“I understand. Today, I’ll just go to the company with you.”

At the institution, the issue had surpassed plagiarism. The livestream was immediately shut down—this was no laughing matter.

“If it hadn’t been for you and your mother’s interference back then, how could Father have fallen into a coma? The day after the incident, you had the court sentence me. I had no way to find the real culprit, no way to prove my innocence.”

Yuan Xiangdie’s tone lost its previous indifference, her questioning clear and forceful.

“Principal Zhu, someone outside claims to have brought evidence. If everyone sees it, the truth will be clear, and you’ll know whether Yuan Xiangdie deserves to graduate.”

At this point, graduation was the least of anyone’s concerns. The Yuan family had once dominated the city center, ruling as a sandhill enterprise. Had the head of the family not died suddenly, things would not have come to this—but still, they urged the person in without delay.

“Well, what are you waiting for? Let them in!”

As Housekeeper Hu entered, all eyes in the room fixed on him.

“Long time no see, everyone. I won’t do anything today except deliver evidence. The real protagonist should be Miss Yuan Yao’er.”